These techno legends worked on music for Ghost in the Shell

In 1989, Masamune Shirow created a seinen manga series (or, anime) called Ghost In The Shell. The story was that of a counter-cyberterrorist organisation called Public Security Section 9, in 21st century Japan. Anyways, eventually the series grew larger, becoming an entire media franchise that saw it move into movies, more manga series, and even computer games. The games are the source of inspiration for this this article.

In July 1997 the franchise released its very first computer game on the Playstation 1. The third-person shooter was met with generally positive reviews on its release being praised for its animation, graphics (haha), unusual wall-climbing mechanics and music. Did you notice the keyword in that last sentence? I’ll give you a hint, it’s what this website is based around: MUSIC.

The soundtrack to his game was called Ghost in the Shell: Megatech Body, and was produced by Takkyu Ishino, a man who knows how to make a techno banger. When I listened to the soundtrack, this caught my attention so I looked into it. Turns out influential techno artists such as Joey Beltram, WestBam, Derrick May, Dave Angel and more, all had tracks featured in the game. Joey Beltram even performed at the game’s launch party at the Yebisu Garden Hall, Japan. Check out the soundtrack below, there’s some proper belters in here:

Twenty years later and this thumping techno, anime, third person shooter has turned into a corporate, EDM tripe movie. Where did it all go wrong? I’m guessing whoever is behind the production on the new movie released this year, obviously has no clue about music and just went for the ‘obvious’ mainstream dance music choice: Steve Aoki. Just try to make it to make your way through this musical cack he put together for the new film, and then compare it to the original music from the 1995 anime. Subtlety is not one of Aoki’s strong suits.

It just goes to show the day and age we are in. Why not get Takkyu Ishino and Joey Beltram involved in the remake’s soundtrack? – Maybe the mainstream crowd want weapon grade EDM. Maybe they don’t – but, maybe the mainstream crowd is wrong not to. Just a thought.

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